Tools accumulate quietly. Once a year I audit what I actually open and remove anything I have not touched in a month. These five earned their place.
The test is whether you would miss it
Every tool here replaced either a manual step or another tool. Nothing was added because it looked interesting. That single rule keeps the stack small enough to stay fast.
The best tool is the one you stop noticing.
Keep the list short, revisit it often, and be willing to drop something you paid for. Consistency across a small set beats coverage across a large one.
